Considering a CPU and RAM upgrade
Considering a CPU and RAM upgrade
Hello. You're considering enhancing your computer by adding more RAM and a CPU upgrade. Currently, you have 32GB of RAM, but you're thinking about increasing it to 64GB. (The package you own is no longer available.) At present, 32GB should suffice, but you typically use around 24GB or more, so you'd like extra capacity.
Your main concern is: Should you choose a dual-rank 32GB kit or two single-rank 16GB kits? The dual-rank 32GB option is $25 more than buying two 16GB kits each. Is it safe to purchase two separate 32GB kits from the same company, and will it fit your system? Also, how would this work with a 4GB RAM setup on a 3700X or 5900X at 3600MHz?
For the memory you're interested in: [Link](https://www.kingstonmemoryshop.co.uk/kin...y-ram-dimm)
Regarding the CPU upgrade, you're looking at switching from an AMD 3700X to a 5900X for around $500. You mentioned gaming and normal use, but you want to prepare for future upgrades. With AM5 and Alder Lake on the horizon, it might be wise to consider this move now rather than waiting. Your current specs are:
- CPU: AMD 3700X
- GPU: ASUS RTX 3060 ROG Strix OC
- Cooler: NZXT X73 with Noctua fans
- RAM: 32GB (2x16GB, 3600MHz)
- Storage: 2x NVMe SSDs, 2x 4TB HDDs
- Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow
Your plan seems solid for both performance and longevity.
I’m confident AMD boards work better with four sticks instead of two. I’d choose the four 16GB sticks, since for the CPU the performance gain is significant—but if you’re not pushing it to its limits, the difference won’t be noticeable.
I checked various forums and YouTube channels and noticed that 5900x offers a noticeable boost in FPS and overall performance. It may not always increase FPS significantly, but it helps reduce stuttering in games. I also saw that using four sticks tends to perform better, though it’s essentially two sets of 32GB sticks working together. Byte Size Tech mentioned avoiding mixing RAM from different kits, even if they’re from the same manufacturer, since the hardware could differ. On Gamers Nexus Video, they tested at 5600x and reported stable results with consistent timing across configurations. For my setup, I’ll stick to using only one kit and enable DOCP with a 1:1 ratio. With two sticks, the 3600MHz setting works well, but with four sticks I’m aiming for stability.
Typically it's wise to choose the top two performing sticks for your desired capacity. Unless you're using a threadripper, four sticks don't always outperform just two.
I've switched from a 9600K to a 5900X using a 2060 Super and a substantial amount of RAM (48GB). From what I've noticed, you won't see any gains in FPS or smoothness when playing at 1440p. The 3060 offers little more power compared to the 2060S, and with my card set at 1440p, there was no noticeable difference between the 9600K and 5900X during gaming sessions. The experience remains the same. If you're only aiming for a performance boost in games, you'll likely be let down. But for tasks like Unity development or streaming, the extra cores really made a difference—significantly improving load times, especially for games such as Metro Exodus PC Enhanced Edition where launching used to take hours on the 9600K.
The ideal stick count matches the channel count, which means two sticks here. Filling all four slots adds unnecessary strain on the IMC and might cause problems. For Ryzen, four ranks perform best, but a dual-rank kit also achieves that, making it the clear choice. Regarding the 5900X, it was worth it for me. I used the same upgrade route (3700X → 5900X), which boosted performance significantly through extra cores and improved IPC. You didn’t mention other uses beyond gaming, but you’ll notice better results in games mainly due to Zen 3’s single-core gains. A 5600X or 5800X would suffice for that level of improvement. If you handle heavy multicore tasks, the 5900X is a solid investment.
I'm considering enhancing my CPU to ensure my PC stays solid for several years. I'm currently gaming at 1440p, so an upgrade might not show much improvement now, but it could matter later with a GPU upgrade. Regarding the graphics, I'm thinking about switching from a 3060 to a 3080 or 3080 Ti if I choose Nvidia cards—I believe the 3060 Ti/3070/3070 Ti isn't worth it. For AMD, I'm looking into the 6800 XT or 6900 XT. These options are more affordable than the 3080 and 3080 Ti and easier to find in stores. I'd likely benefit more from a 5900X with a new GPU, while the 3700X might become a bottleneck compared to 3080/3080 Ti or higher-end cards.
Initially, the focus isn't on the board itself. Ryzen favors four ranks, but achieving that can also come from a dual rank setup with two units. Filling all four slots increases pressure on the IMC, leading to potential problems like being unable to raise RAM speeds or tightening timings further, which can block XMP support and even cause boot failures. This scenario is uncommon with Zen 2 or newer boards on solid hardware, though not impossible. For AMD or Intel dual-channel systems, the optimal configuration is generally two sticks per channel—usually just one per channel. Boards designed for extreme overclocking rarely exceed two slots, as it goes against their intended design.
You're asking whether upgrading to double-rank RAM would help you. It might give you a noticeable boost depending on your needs. If you stick with your current single-ranked 32GB, you could delay the change for a while. For gaming and multitasking, the difference between 5800x and 5900x is about $90, so the upgrade could be worthwhile. Your 3700x has fewer cores than your 5600x, which might affect performance under heavy workloads.
Each position can be targeted separately, allowing greater parallelism in memory tasks. This improvement isn't as significant as the contrast between single and dual channels—it's more about fine-tuning. Performance rises with additional ranks, though it doesn't drastically change the overall impact compared to having dual channels. Still, increasing ranks adds some load on the IMC, similar to filling all four slots. Running a 4x dual rank setup would be the most demanding for the IMC. Four ranks strike a balance between what the IMC supports and optimal speed. Essentially, two sticks are better than four, but four ranks are preferable overall. For peak performance, aiming for double dual ranks is ideal, though it may not always be feasible. A four-rank single rank setup remains a viable option, with the trade-off being reduced flexibility for overclocking or high-speed RAM use.